Can unscrambling device



April 25, 1950 v. A. HARRIS 2,

CAN UNSCRAMBLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q m 35 w INVENTOR. (IR/11w W Mil/a BY ieu [4 awrnqig April 25, 1950 V. A. HARRIS 2,505,398

, CAN UNSCRAMBLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1946 I I z Sheets-Sheet 2 q 7 6 .9 70 6Z WNVENTOR. I W20 1,1 .5. #a/M.

Patented Apr. 25 1950 UNITED STAT CAN UN SCRAMBLING DEVICE Verro Ashel Harris, Montcrey, Califl, assignor to California Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of New York Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 693,072

This invention relates to can handling machinery, and more particularly to a device adapted to receive cans positioned indiscriminately either right side up or upside down and conduct the right side up cans through an independent path and simultaneously conduct the upside down cans through a second independent path and present both types of cans to a conveyer belt in right side up position.

The device of the present invention is particularly designed for the handling of sardine cans and makes use of the fact that such sardine cans are provided adjacent their upper sides with a peripheral seam. It is necessary to present these cans in right side up position to the conveyer belt on which they are to be conveyed to the can labeling machine. I 7

It is accordingly one object of this invention to provide a device for handling cans indiscriminately positioned either-right side up or upside down to rearrange the cans so that all are presented to a conveyer belt in upright position.

- It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device utilizing a gravity feed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means to conduct cans having an initially upright position through one canway wherein they are maintained in their upright position and cans having an initially upside down position through another canway in which they are turned overand to lead both of said canways to a common conveyer mechanism.

It isa further object of this invention to provide means whereby cans may be fed from either of said canways to said common conveyer means without interfering with each other or piling up.

It is a feature of this invention that cans presented to the unscrambling machine in an upright position are contacted adjacent the peripheral seam and conducted through a spiral canway to a conveyer" belt, whereas cans presented to the unscrambling machine in an upside down position are not engaged bytheir seams and do not travel through the spiral canway but instead travel through a looped canway in which their position is reversed before being presented to their conveyer means. v V I it is a further feature of this invention that the bottom ends of both canways are provided with means whereby a can being'fed from one canway to the belt must clear the mechanism before a can can be fedto the belt from the other canway.

8 Claims. (Cl. 198-43) 2 pear in the hereinafter annexed specification in which: V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embody ing the present invention. 7

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the entering section of the device illustrating the reception of a can in the upright position and also illustratin a can in the inverted position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary Side, elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the can chute mechanism in an alternate position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a can unscrambling machine indicated generally at H] and including an upstanding frame member 12 comprising a pair of vertically extending angle irons l3 connected substantially midway of the machine by a stifiening plate l4. Adjacent the upper end of the frame, a pair of side frames l5 are provided, each welded or otherwise secured to the flat side of its angle iron l3. Welded to the top edge of each of the side pieces I5 is the bottom member l6 of a looped canway. The bottom.member I6 is provided at its upper. end with a depending flange I! to serve as a guard. vIn spaced relation to the bottom member l6 of the canway are a pair of rails I8 secured as by means of bolts 19 and spacing tubes 20 to the bottom member l6. By reference to Figure 1 it will be noted that the bottom Further obicts, advantages and features apa 0 of the machine becomes the top of the canway as indicated at 2|. The spaced rails l8 describe a similar loop as indicated at 22. Both the bottom member I6 and the rails l8 have a straight portion and a curved portion. Where the curved portion of these rails begin, the canway is provided with an outer member 23 secured to the member l6by means of bolts 24. Within this section of the canway the bolts 24 are provided with a pair of spacers 25 and 26 located respectively between the member. 23 and the rails 18, and the rails l8 and the bottom member [6, thus the bolts 24 and the spacers 25 and 26 serve to support both the rails l8 and the outer member 23 throughout this section of the machine.

The device is provided at the upper end thereof with a pair of rails 28. The rails 28 are secured to the bottom memberlG by means of bolts 29 and spacers 30. By reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the. rails 25 are beveled upon their inner edges as at 3! and extend inwardly beyond the inner edges of the rails IS.

The device is provided, adjacent its upper end, with a bracket 34. The bracket 34 carries a pair of screws 35 in each of its sides, the ends of which are welded to or otherwise suitably support the rails 28. The bracket 34 also carries through its upper Wall a screw 36, the bottom end of which is Welded to or otherwisesuitably supports a top guard 38. The top guard 38 is carried in spaced relation above the rails 28 and has an upwardly bent entering section 39, as indicated in. Figure 1.

The device is also provided with a second inwardly extending edges of the rails 28.

bracket secured to the bottom member l6 means of bolts 4!.

of rails 42. screws 43, the inner edges of which are weldedto l6 and prevented from leaving the canway. The can 90 will therefore pass down the looped canway formed by the rails [8, the bottom member l6 and the outer member 23, and will be inverted and presented to the 'belt 80 as indicated in the bottom of Figure 1.

Referring again to Figure 4 in the lower portion thereof there is shown the can we in the upright position. It is noted that the bottom of this can is riding on the bottom member I6 but that the flange it! of the can is engaged byTtlll e is can will therefore follow the rails 28 through the the bottom of Figure 1.

- While it is, not'jiillustrated, it will be understood or otherwise suitably support the rails 28 and the upper wall of the bracket 40 carries a screw at 52. A chute; 54 isprovided having" a pair oi pin receiving bosses 55 intowhi'ch arerigidly secured the inward ends-of counterweight levers 56. The inward endsof" the counterweight levers 56 pass through the side frames-50 and are pivotally supported thereby. The outer ends of the levers 56 are provided with counterweights 51. The chute 5d is built in the formof a channel and attached to the 'bottom thereoi a'skid 58. The skid 58has a, brace58=attachedto the bottom of thechute 54 and to a flat member'tfi' constituting the bottom of the skid; The member'til has an upwardly bent end member 81.

The chute 54' is also provided substantially midway thereof with a handle "62 in which is pivotally mounted one arm of a U-shapedhinge pin 63', the other arm of which is positioned in a boss 84 formedon the can stop'fifi. The can stop 65'ispivoted as at 66 from the frame member [2 d i u e s raig por on 6.1, an upwa ly e t m 5 and a d pending skid 69. The skid. 69,18 l to he b ttom. of the. can. stop 65 and includes a flat portion 1d, an intermediate portion i! and an angul'arlydisposed portion 'iZ' as. nd a e n F u e 1.. The device 'above described is adapted to be L din c nn tion with a. c nveyer b lt 811 w c is independently mounted. The conveyer belt 813' passes under nd in close proximity to'the bottom end of member 23 and further passes under and in closeproximity to the lower edge of the chute 54 when the chute 5'4 in its downward position. The conveyer belt is supported adjacent the. above described machine by means of a channel member 8| which may be secured to the bottom of the frame l2 and the side plate 50 by welding it-thereto.

Referring now to Figure i in the upper section of this figure there is shown a can 93' in" the inverted position as it enters the machine. With the can thus inverted the flange 9l-of the can is, not engaged by the rails 28, but the can isconfined between the rails 48 andthe bottom member by those skilled in the art that cans are fed by a" suitable conveyer mechanism to the entering section of the machine. It will further be understood that these cans maybe" either in themvarie pqsitlon'as shownrin'fifi, or in the pr ht po ition a show "ltdit wi l e undrs odd that th se are ied o t nuously nto. the machin andi'in order tder en Piling up or interference by theme from the various eanways, th abovede'stirib d ans op and'vchu e are provided.

Refer in more particularly o Fi ur s 1 and 5, it. will be. noted tha whe ia an s placed up n thehute he We ght o the can qverbalanc s the coun er eights .51 a d-pauses the-chute; 5i te tilt ddwnwardly until the sk d 58. c ntac s the belttu. The can: plated onthe hute 5.4'wi11 therei'gre; be passed bathe beltflil- A5} ShQ n in Figure 1, when the chute 54 is in thisdownward position. the an stup d is so position d; t thaskidfis isiorceddewhwe dlyse that he ansularpcrtion V1.2. therecf aresition to stop any: can comin dawn; the leered; eanwar andprevent this: can irominte ierine with the cansv from thechute: 574:. By reference teF sure .5. howev it willibe'notedzthat whenacanhas passed wn he, looped'zleanwarand: under he...slid t8 an 5B,:theehu e 54:15 held ina rai ed n-esitien. by thezunderly neeamand'liurthermore the upward 1r; extending arm-t8; oi-thecarr stopfili in a e sitiont stopnyean onthe an hute Thus canssirem the chute: 54 are prevented from interfe ineiwitbveans tram. the lo ped. ca way- While there has beenadescribed what at pres nt considered the preferred embod m n s 0f the. invention; it will be; understood: that;- various ehanees and: alteratieos may be made here without; d parting: from the essence. of: the invent onthat is intended t tee er herein a l uc chan es andalrerationsias come within thertrue scopece d -.spi.r it of. th annexed claims .fliolaimi;

A'eanhandl ne: deri eeedantedto re e ve cen inuqus supr rof cans of the yp ha in fla ged seams djac nt he-upper edge thereon. part of whi h may be inv rted'and, t discharge saidane a l. in up ight posit on comprising. a ca warta; which; said cans: are-presented, a pair of rails spaced from said canwayto engage the flanges/f the upright ans an discharge them withdutinver ing, a l oped. canway adapted to nvertl' and di charge-said inverted cans and a conveyor be to Winchell f s id c ns a e d s= charg d; the paths i said. reilsandhf saidllooped canway' converging so as to discharge all oi'said tia llythe same directionand means for preventing the discharge of cansfrom said rails when a pan, is discharging from said looped canway.

flanged seams adjacent the upperedge thereof,

part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, a looped canway adapted to invert and dischargesaid inverted cans, and a conveyer belt to which all of said cans are discharged, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans to said conveyer belt traveling in substantially the same direction and means for preventing the discharge of cans from said looped canway when a can is discharging from said rails.

3. A can handling device adapted to receive a continuous supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacent the upper edge thereof, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of inclined rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, said rails having a spiral path, and a looped canway adapted to invert and discharge said inverted cans, said looped canway including upper and lower Walls and a pair of side rails for confining the cans during inverting,

and a conveyor belt to which all of said cans are discharged, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans to said conveyer belt traveling in substantially the same direction and means for preventing the discharge of cans from said rails when a can is dis-charging from said looped canway.

4. A can handling device adapted to receive a continuous supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacent the upper edge thereof, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of inclined rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, said rails having a spiral path, a looped canway adapted to invert and discharge said inverted cans, said looped canway including upper and lower walls and a pair of side rails for confining the cans during inverting and a conveyer belt to which all of said cans are discharged, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans to said conveyer belt traveling in substantially the same direction and means for preventing the discharge of cans from said looped canway when a can is discharging from said rails.

5. A can handling device adapted to receive a continuous supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacent the upper edge thereofl, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, a looped canway adapted to invert and discharge said inverted cans, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans traveling in substantially the same direction, a pivoted can chute associated with said rails and a counter-.- balance for said can chute biasing said can chute normally to inoperative position and skid means associated with said chute and engageable with a can discharging from said looped canway for retaining said chute in said inoperative position where a can is discharging from said looped can- 6. A can handling device adapted to receive a: continuous-supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacentthe upper edge thereof, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, a looped canway adapted to invert and discharg said inverted cans, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans traveling in substantially the same direction, a pivoted can chute associated with said rails and a counterbalance for said can chute biasing said can chute normally to inoperative position, said means associated with said chute and engageable with a can discharging from said looped canway for retain-- ing said chute in said inoperative position where a can is discharging from said looped canway and a pivoted can stop adapted to stop a can reaching said chute when in said inoperative position.

7. A can handling device adapted to receive a continuous supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacent the upper edge thereof, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a, pair of rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, a looped canway adapted to invert and discharge said inverted cans, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans traveling in substantially the same direction, a pivoted can chute associated with said rails and a counterbalance for said can chute biasing said can chute normally to inoperative position, skid means associated with said chute and engageable with a can dis-charging from said looped canway for retaining said chute in said inoperative position where a can is discharging from said looped canway, a pivoted can stop adapted to stop a can reaching said chute when in said inoperative position and said counterbalance being of insufiicient mass to bias said can chute to said inoperative position when a can is stopped thereon, whereby said can chute may pivot to operative position when freed by said skid means.

8. A can handling device adapted to receive a continuous supply of cans of the type having flanged seams adjacent the upper edge thereof, part of which may be inverted and to discharge said cans all in upright position comprising a canway to which said cans are presented, a pair of rails spaced from said canway to engage the flange of the upright cans and discharge them without inverting, a looped canway adapted to invert and discharge said inverted cans, the paths of said rails and of said looped canway converging so as to discharge all of said cans traveling in substantially the same direction, a pivoted can chute associated with said rails and a counterbalance for said can chute biasing said can chute normally to inoperative position, skid means associated with said chute for retaining said chute and engageable with a can discharging from said looped canway in said inoperative position where a can is discharging from said looped canway, a

7 .8 pivoted can .stop adapted to Emma; can reachin .BEFERENQES" ohutewhen said;inoperativepositiflmifiaid The following ef e of record in th a. can is stoppedthereQmmherehy:said canohute 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS may pivot to operative position when freed bysaid "Niunbmi Name Depte skid means and a; can: sfiogwassoociated'iwiijhflsaid 640,757 Gates: et a1 Jan; 9, 1900 looped canway operative to prevent the disqharge 15118372 Torres Dec, 1-,;914 of' cans from saidioopedrcanway when said; Q8411 .'1,6',999 Hardiman n Oct. 1,1, 1927 -ohuteis1noperati=ue position. if] 1149262 Roark Mar. 41, 1930 "1,886,896 Nelson; Nov;.-8,y 1932 

